Locations

(for my mother)You taught me language.how to pronounce my heritage without giving a piece of myself to apologyhow to read myself out of my surroundingshow to find grace in something as vulgar as racism and a poor neighborhoodin the south side of San Antonioyou taught me to canvas the public librarylike I had some serious business to conduct between the shelveswhen my second grade class took a field tripacross the streetto the CortezI was the only one who knew her way aroundthe smallest library in townI can't countthe number of overdue books we somehow managed to never pay fees for.we could always afford a drive to a library we'd never been to.it's the only institution I still believe in.every section of a city has a building full of bookssomewhere near youthere's a grey treasure house disguised as a broken heartwith a blood type that doesn't discriminateit’s got matches that will start youand so many storiesit'll make your hands shakeall you have to do is find itI know love lives in a librarysearching the spines for places to sproutcoloring her name into jackets and quietand pencils with no erasersbecause she doesn't make mistakesshe looks just like my motherpicking my first booksand fixing my mouth around new words and worldsmis antepasados, my ancestors, foughtfor freedoms like this.

my mother became the first poem to change me.when there was no money for new clothesmy mother loved me in paperbackin the image of my fatherin the elasticity of phenomenalI stand on her shoulders and reach the dreams she couldn't.

though she has little patience and a temper to rival a Texas summershe didn’t allow me to embrace mediocre.she read to meoften enough for me to see in wordswhat I saw in herHer encouragement wore me like a Christmas treewhen people say that I shineI know she’s the spark.the strongest parts of my testimonycan trace themselves to her teaching me the differencebetween expectedand extraordinaryFor the woman who found magic in the form of a library,every time I enter one I am home

because you are with me

in the footsteps between impossible and still standing, ever reachingever beaming through the aisles of volumes that raised my volumespoke my silence when I’d swallowed my tongueand patched stanzas into my speech patternsso I’d know how to thank you properly

I have become a woman who writes poetryI believe in my words and therefore myself because of this.I love our familyup out of that neighborhoodout of the couponsrobberies, migrant work, borders between colors and Spanglish from the blood of a black girl with bronze skin, silver syllables and a lineage worth all the gold in Mexicoevery time I read or write in the language of hard working, hell-raising honesty.Mom, you sound and stand like the signature of strengthand I am in aweof the cursive you’ve left in my palms.

arianathepoet

Danirae242

This was so good. You made me yearn for my library card and want to wipe the dust from it

iwriting2010

4 years ago

Very honest and inspiring!

Wizdumb

4 years ago

Wow

-Blueblizzard-

4 years ago

I love it. your poem speaks to me in so many ways. keep up the good work.

oreobe15

4 years ago

feeling this... respect

Daphne Hernandez

4 years ago

I think it's enough to say that this made me cry.

Thank you for putting everything into words for me because I certainly couldn't do it was well as you did.

monasaidwut

4 years ago

AMAZING :)

RachelC

4 years ago

This was beautiful! It reminds me so much of my own mother. Yours sounds extraordinary.

Cairisma_

4 years ago

You have inspired me Thank You

livieMarie

4 years ago

i almost cried . Was thinking on what to write for my mothers birthday . found inspiration

Mafi Grey

3 years ago

Speechless yet only one word comes to thought, invincibility.

anonymous7827

3 years ago

This is f*ching beautiful

smooth_harmony

3 years ago

Great peace very inspirational and encouraging

CourtneyBendele

3 years ago

Love it Ariana. Inspiring.

Natalieloves13

3 years ago

This is amazing.

sydalex1

3 years ago

omgg soooo this poem is amazing

Eunoia

3 years ago

I love this. One of the best poems I have seen on here :)

you ou touched my soul:)

slengyel1

3 years ago

This is beyond beautiful. Raw and excellent and inspiring and brilliant. I wish you all the best!!

kb97

3 years ago

This poem is absolutely beautiful, inspiring, even breathtaking and the video is extraordinarily well made. It made me feel what you were saying. You did an absolutely amazing job writing this and I hope you continue to write because I would be thrilled to buy a book with your poetry in it.

brookedossman

2 years ago

This poem was wonderful, i can feel you compassion for your mom

Delora93

2 years ago

"I am in awe of the cursive you've left in my palms"

I too am in awe, bravo! Best poem I've read in a very long while.

ebernard4

2 years ago

Wow. To one day reach that level of eloquence would be a dream!

P0intyP0etryHat

2 years ago

That was amazing. Wow.

dmobley17

1 year ago

This was truly amazing! Your words perfectly expressed raw feelings and moments. I was especially moved by this line: "I stand on her shoulders and reach the dreams she couldn't." It portrays both gratitude and self reliance so well. Thank you for writing this; it was truly moving.